Autos & Motorbikes

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What is Cheaper: Bike Insurance or Car Insurance?

bike blur Like all vehicles motorcycles need insurance, and just like cars it is one of the major expenses of operating a motorcycle. Many people may wonder if it is cheaper to bike insurance or car insurance, in fact most people just assume that it is more expensive to insure a bike. The logic is that since you are more likely to get hurt riding a motorcycle the insurance must be higher. This actually isn’t true it is much cheaper to insure a bike. The reason for this is that the greatest expense to the insurance company is damage you do to other people not the damage you do to yourself. Since a bike can do less damage it is cheaper to insure.

The primary reason that bikes are cheaper to insure than cars is that the amount of damage that you can do on a bike is substantially less than the damage you can cause with a car. The biggest expense when buying insurance is the liability insurance, the coverage for damage you do to other people. If you cause an accident whether on a bike or in a car you can pretty much be assured of getting sued. The amount that you get sued for is going to be determined by the amount of damage that you caused. Since the damage a bike can cause is so much less the amount you get sued for will be less. Which means that the amount the insurance company has to pay will be less, which translates to lower premiums

It is also usually cheaper to get insurance that covers damage to your bike than it is to get insurance that covers damage to a car, although this isn’t always true. Since bikes are cheaper than cars in most cases, the cost of repairing damage to them is usually less. However this is offset by the fact that bikes are more likely to be damaged since they get into accidents more frequently. The result is that insurance to cover damage to your bike may or may not be cheaper than that for a car, there are a number of factors at play here. Obviously it all boils down to which insurer you choose too. In the UK, the choice is simple because they have specialized insurers like Carole Nash, but in the US – even the specialized insurers are spread all over the place, with huge differences in cover and rates.

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See If You Don’t “Envy” GMs New Concepts

GM EN-V conceptsIt appears that GM has found what they believe to be a winner in the EN-V platform.

Along with SAIC, GM’s China based partner, the company showed off three new concepts in the personal mobility category, all able to seat two people.

EN-V, by the bye, is an acronym. It stands for Electric Networked Vehicle. The three are named Xiao, which translates into Laugh; Maio, which translates into Magic; and Jiao, which translates into Pride. That is the one pictured here.

You might be thinking, as I did, that no one would ever have any use for such vehicles. But consider the crowded streets of Shanghai and other major cities in China. These might be just the thing.

Checking Into The 2011 BMW 535i!

2011 BMW 535i

When it comes to BMW, I am pretty much impressed with everything that this particular company has to offer – the only thing that I am disappointed in is the fact that I can not afford one of these awesome cars.  Like the 2011 BMW 535i for example, this car was actually just priced at just under $60k and I have to say that while it might be worth it … it is almost not worth it either.

Personally, I think that the 2011 BMW 535i is one of the greatest cars out there, it comes with everything that you would expect and not expect from a car that is considered luxury and it truly is one of those cars that a lot of people do not really think about.

However … the price is definitely something that needs to change.  Hopefully one day!

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Honda Unleashes Its 3R-C Concept

Honda 3R-C conceptWhen you think of Honda, you might not think of anything really snazzy or out there — but your views might well change now that you are getting a look at the Honda 3R-C concept.

Is it an automobile? Is it a motorbike? Is it something your kid can ride around the yard? Is it a new, futuristic means of transportation for your child’s favorite action figure?

It is actually a battery powered single seater, completely electric, which is set to be revealed at the upcoming motor show in Geneva.

One of the many personal mobility vehicles that will be unveiled, it definitely looks like something that the Jetson family promised us all a long, long time ago. The three wheeler has everything from a flexible cover to a safety shell, meant to decrease any threat of impacts from either side.

BMW S 1000 RR with studs — The perfect all-winter bike!

BMW S 1000 RR with studs This bike right here is one that I did not expect I would ever see – to be perfectly honest, I always wondered if they would come up with a bike that was designed specifically for the wintertime and now … right here people, the 2010 BMW S 1000 RR is it.  Not only is it an incredible bike on the inside, but take a look at those tires!

Those tires are what actually make this BMW bike move in the snow like lightning and even through some ice – it doesn’t matter!  You will definitely not be wiping out on the snow with these beautiful and awesome looking tires.

So if you are a motorcycle guy and have been waiting for your chance – the BMW S 1000 RR bike is definitely your chance!

A Preview of Toyota’s New Concept

Toyota FT-CH conceptI have to admit, I sometimes find Toyota’s vehicles a little … mediocre. It’s not that I dislike them, not it all. It is just that, more often than not, I only like them — they do not really stand out as anything more than decent vehicles. There are always exceptions to that, however, and this is one of them.

“This” refers to Toyota’s new concept, the FT-CH, which was unveiled at the NAIAS for 2010. The potential future production boldly wore the badge of the Prius.

This particular concept is a four seater and it was both designed and created in Nice, France, which is where Toyota’s European based design center, called ED2, is located.

In general, the FT-CH is smaller than the Prius, not to mention the fact that it weighs less and is said to have even greater fuel efficiency.

A Look at the Electric Trabant

Trabant nT conceptReady for a mouthful? Okay, well, somewhere out there in the world, there is a company called Herpa Miniaturmodelle GmbH, and although it sounds sort of like a highly contagious disease or something, it is actually a car company that specializes in making full scale models. This is notable because at a fairly recent Frankfurt auto show — the IAA, actually — the company revealed the Trabant nT concept, which is totally electric.

This car is a modern take on a more classic car, although I have to say that, as far as the exterior goes, the only thing really modern I see is the rather boxy shape. That’s not a slight; I think the vehicle looks awesome. I am just saying that this so called modern take could be taken a bit deeper — but at the same time I am glad it is not.

Fiat 500C Will Debut In Detroit Next Month!

Fiat 500C Now that Christmas is over – I can tell you that people are gearing right up for the Detroit Auto Show next month and I can tell you that it is going to be absolutely beautiful and a ton of different cars are going to be there.  One car that I am particularly excited about is the Fiat 500C.

This car is a car that I have not only been waiting to see but it is a car that looks awesome!  The small, compact feature of it is truly something that fits right in where the future is going in the way of cars.

Personally – I think that the Fiat 500C is going to be the highlight at the Detroit Auto Show and I can’t wait to see it up close and personal!

Lamborghini Gallardo for Vanessa Rousso

My favorite female poker player, Vanessa “Maverick” Rousso has shown once again why she is one of the most interesting and most exciting poker players of this generation: she just bought herself a beautiful deep yellow Lamborghini Gallardo – and she looks great in her Pokerstars/GoDaddy attire driving it, I’m sure.

Here’s a video of Vanessa and her brand new Lamborghini.

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Congratulations, Mrs. Rousso!

2010 Subaru WRX STI Special Edition Is Coming To The States!

2010 Subaru WRX STI Special Edition

If you have been a huge fan of Subaru since the beginning of time and you have been waiting for this brand to bring their special-edition WRX models to the US, well … your wait is over.  Finally, the 2010 Subaru WRX STI Special Edition is going to be released in the states and while we have been waiting for this to happen, it is not a surprise or a big deal to a lot of people.

For some, they are noticing the smallest little things about the 2010 Subaru WRX STI Special Edition – like the downgraded stereo – which has a single disc, four speakers versus the six disc, ten speakers combination that was once in the WRX. 

To me?  Not a huge deal.  I have been waiting for the Special Edition to be released forever.